Chapter 385

Chapter 385: Divine Weapon Duel, Impact of the Earth Immortal Battle

Seeing the newly emerged Mu Lin, the Transformation Elders suddenly remembered this wasn’t his true body but a clone – and he possessed thirteen such clones.

"Wait! If our Jinyin Gate disciples could also serve as Vessels for Mu Lin’s descent, that would mean hundreds…"

The unkillable nature made Jinyin Gate’s elders deeply uneasy.

Yet Mu Lin himself felt equally troubled.

The Earth Immortal supported by spiritual ground proved overwhelmingly powerful. The eight-hundred-meter Golden Spirit Giant God wielded mountain-shattering might with every strike.

This was pure magical energy – too fundamental for Mu Lin to interfere with.

The earlier projectile throw proved utterly unstoppable.

Armor-piercing, spirit-breaking, magic-shattering… combined with terrifying throwing force, Mu Lin doubted even his true body bearing the True Spirit Domain Chart could withstand it. That strike might pierce dimensions to impale another version of himself.

Jin Haoran’s Golden-armored Giant Spirit also boasted insane defenses. Though Mu Lin’s substitution counter-damage transferred injuries to the giant, its massive size and solid foundation allowed instant healing without active repair.

"Can’t fight head-on. I’m still far from Earth Immortal level… Though this relates to Jinyin Gate’s master fighting on home turf. Without spiritual ground support, his power would drop thirty to fifty percent. Only then could I challenge him."

…

Changing tactics, Mu Lin stopped attacking Earth Immortal Jin Haoran directly. Instead, his Vessels and clones scattered across Yin Soil’s various locations.

These Vessels and clones then resonated with the True Spirit Domain Chart, summoning black river water into the area.

"Splash…"

Some clones activated Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral, channeling the power of Heaven’s Funeral downward.

This sight nearly made Jin Haoran’s eyes burst with fury, his heart almost stopping.

"Bastard! How dare you!"

Enraged, he drove the Golden Armored Giant God to slash furiously at Mu Lin.

His fury was justified – Earth Immortals merging with heaven and earth gained numerous advantages: controlling natural forces, accessing limitless spiritual energy, comprehending universal laws. Special spiritual grounds like Thunder Prison or frozen peaks even granted unique talents.

But these benefits came with flaws. Leaving their spiritual ground caused significant power loss. Worse, damaging their bonded territory would severely injure their foundation – potentially blocking all future advancement.

Mu Lin’s plan aimed to destroy everything. Whether through black river water or decaying Burial Power, these forbidden forces would ravage Jinyin Gate’s spiritual ground.

Faced with such an act that severed his own foundation, Jin Haoran could not tolerate it.

Without hesitation, he controlled the Golden Spirit Giant God to slash at Mu Lin.

"Boom!"

Amidst endless wind and thunder, Mu Lin’s newly Revived body was shattered once more.

In the next instant, Mu Lin witnessed the terrifying might of an Earth Immortal.

"Divine Weapon Art, arise!"

"Ten Thousand Arms, manifest!"

"Clang!"

At Jin Haoran’s furious shout, a golden mountain spanning a thousand meters materialized behind him, radiating metallic energy.

"Is this Jinyin Gate’s spiritual power?"

As Mu Lin pondered, the golden mountain erupted with countless radiant beams. Within this glow, innumerable weapons suddenly filled the sky – swords, sabers, golden discs, spears, crescent blades, halberds… Each emanated deadly sharpness and overwhelming power.

A single command summoning ten thousand arms – this was Jinyin Gate’s ultimate technique.

"Destroy!"

Following the master of Jinyin Gate’s roar, the weapons transformed into golden streaks shooting toward Mu Lin’s hundredfold bodies.

"Whoosh!!!"

The golden projectiles turned the Yin Soil into what resembled a meteor shower.

No – this was more like saturation bombing.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Deafening explosions rocked the Yin Soil as divine weapons struck home.

"Boom… Roar… BOOM!"

The endless detonations plowed through Mu Lin’s underworld domain.

The Yin Soil and Cycle of Life and Death weren’t real – merely temporary constructs forged by Mu Lin’s magic. They had limits.

Jin Haoran’s assault exceeded those limits completely.

Under the bombardment of countless divine weapons, the Yin Soil disintegrated into nothingness.

"Truly… I’m still far from matching an Earth Immortal… Congratulations on your victory."

With the Yin Soil’s destruction, Mu Lin’s clones vanished. The master of Jinyin Gate and elders returned to the mortal realm, hearing their opponent’s parting admission.

Yet no joy showed on any faces in the great hall – neither Jin Haoran nor the elders.

How could they rejoice?

They’d won this battle.

But Mu Lin had only been defeated – not slain.

On the other hand, the elite of the younger generation had all fallen in battle, and their close offspring were completely wiped out.

Even fellow disciples of the same cultivation level had disappeared without trace.

Beyond losing members, their sacred mountain gate had been defiled… Though Jin Haoran attacked swiftly, Mu Lin still managed to corrupt parts of the territory.

This devastation went beyond mere severity – it was foundational destruction.

Gazing at the Black Water flooding their gates and the pervasive stench of decay, then at the pitifully few remaining disciples, the master of Jinyin Gate had lost all his former vigor and confidence.

Only bewilderment and… remorse remained.

Even with his iron will, he had to admit their fatal error in handling Mu Lin.

‘Disregarding the East Sea King’s orders only earned his displeasure. At worst he might resent us, but would never destroy us.’

‘But provoking Mu Lin… Our Jinyin Gate is finished. Completely finished…’

…

The world offers no cure for regret. Faced with the consequences of their choices, Jinyin Gate could only wallow in bitter remorse and hatred.

Yet while regret has no remedy, people still "cross rivers by feeling the stones".

For Shuiyue Sect and the Wei family, Jinyin Gate became those stepping stones.

—Mu Lin’s clash with Jinyin Gate had occurred in the Yin Soil with little fanfare.

But Mu Lin’s true aim was to strike so painfully that others would fear to challenge him.

He wanted witnesses.

While his clones attacked internally, another clone appeared outside Jinyin Gate’s mountain gate, creating spectacular explosions and smoke.

In truth… much of the black river water flooding Jinyin Gate and the expanding Burial Power came from these external clones.

The intentional spectacle drew many spectators.

Even the quarreling Shuiyue Sect and the prepared Wei family noticed, sending scouts to investigate.

"Someone’s attacking Jinyin Gate’s mountain gate?"

"Who dares?"

"Who else? Mu Lin."

"Madness! That’s an Earth Immortal-protected sect. A mere Transformation cultivator challenging them?"

"Insane, yet predictable."

The observer shrugged. "He came alone to the East Sea Kingdom. Storming Jinyin Gate seems wild, but less so than seeking revenge against the East Sea King himself."

"…Fair point."

Initially, nobody took Mu Lin’s assault seriously or believed he could damage Jinyin Gate.

Many came just to watch or claim bounty by capturing him.

These notions died when they saw Jinyin Gate’s devastation.

The ongoing Shuiyue Sect disputes and Wei family’s plans similarly dissolved.

"???"

“What did you say? Jinyin Gate was breached? Their young disciples all died horribly, and countless elders perished? This can’t be true!”

The elders of Shuiyue Sect refused to believe the disciple’s report at first, finding it as absurd as a fantasy tale.

Even the sect leader furrowed his brows and said, “I know you fear Mu Lin’s potential and wish to avoid conflict, but couldn’t you invent a more convincing excuse? Do you truly expect anyone to…”

He stopped mid-sentence.

The investigating disciples had already collapsed to their knees, weeping.

“Sect Leader, it’s true! Jinyin Gate’s younger generation is wiped out! Their mountain gates lie in ruins—they’re finished!”

“I swear upon the Heavenly Dao! Every word is true! If I lie, may lightning strike me dead!”

“Sect Leader, we mustn’t fight Mu Lin! He’s… we can’t oppose him!”

“Father… sob… I don’t want to die…”

The kneeling disciples wailed desperately, faces twisted in terror.

Their fear was justified. Earth Immortals faced little danger—Mu Lin couldn’t yet challenge such beings.

Transformation Elders might survive too, as their true forms hid elsewhere. Hunted by many Earth Immortals, these avatars needed only endure briefly before rescue.

But high-level resources cultivators stood no chance against Mu Lin.

A single glance from the Other Shore Flower’s Life and Death Illusion spell meant instant doom for weaker practitioners.

More chilling still—Mu Lin only targeted youths from powerful clans or rising prodigies. Common cultivators he ignored.

These privileged youths had everything: glorious futures, adoring admirers, lavish privileges. Coddled since birth, they clung fiercely to their charmed lives.

Now war with Mu Lin threatened to strip everything away—their lives, their futures, even their betrothed.

The thought of rivals inheriting their wealth, their lovers, their status… it made their blood run cold.

“Imagine your enemies—those you scorned and defeated—stealing your treasures! Your weakling cousins living in your mansions, bedding your wives, raising your children as their own! Could you endure such shame?”

The mere suggestion made their hearts clench.

Before Shuiyue Sect’s leaders could decide, disciples flooded the grand hall’s steps. They knelt as one, howling pleas to spare them from Mu Lin’s wrath.

As for who organized this protest… the answer needed no explanation.